They've dropped five straight since the romp in Toyota Center. I'm starting to think we broke their brains.
I would really like a guy like Jarred Jeffries for this team. He is a fantastic screen setter, a solid defender (can guard multiple positions), takes charges etc for the second unit. Provides a great locker room presence so he won't interrupt chemistry. He is offensively limited but we don't need that, because our O is already great our D is the problem, namely our D when Omer sits.
Haven't really thought about JJ(even though I like what he brings) mostly because I know that Morey & co. do not want any contract that are going to jeapordize their cap space this Summer, and Jefferies has another two years guaranteed at 1.5 and 1.6 million in 2013/14 and 2015. It doesn't seem like much, but every pennie this Summer counts seeing as though they just barely have enough to supply a 2nd tier (2nd contract or max extension from rookie scale contract) max level contract much less enough to offer a "super max" level contract(which really would only apply to Howard, and CP3). Last night Gerrson Rosas was interviewed at the RGV game and pretty much echoed this sentiment by expressing the importance of this next Summer which is when they are planning on being aggressive with the opportunities they are projecting to be available. In the Rockets case, I would really only look at expiring contracts, or players that have a team option going into next year like Rip Hamilton. You would hate for a player like J. Jefferies to be the reason why you can't offer the right player the right contract next Summer.
I like JJ personality, but sad to say he will not make this team better. What he provides on defense, he loses on offense. If any improvement to the team, it's really marginal.
this sounds about right. the last game of the season is in LA vs Lakers. any or all of these scenarios have all the teams (including the Rockets) winning the majority their conference games. the way I see, we have got to keep pace or gain ground on the Lakers every single night starting, like, yesterday. that's why the loss against the Kings hurt so bad especially when LA lost to Miami. not a conference loss for them but it still puts them in the driver's seat to clinch any tiebreaker on the last game of the season...
After last season's collapse, we can't be too confident. Although in hindsight it actually worked out in getting us Harden. This year, we have a much brighter future and lots of cap room.
0% chance. The Rockets wouldn't even tank to get a better draft pick, no chance they are tanking to try and choose a opponent.
Just a little something i threw together yesterday taking a look at the upcoming schedule. showing the winning % of each of our opponents, and then their winning % based on if it is a home or away game. Date Team Local Win % Local Win% 12-Feb Warriors A 0.588 0.727 13-Feb Clippers A 0.679 0.800 20-Feb Thunder H 0.765 0.640 22-Feb Nets A 0.569 0.478 23-Feb Wizards A 0.286 0.440 27-Feb Bucks H 0.510 0.480 1-Mar Magic A 0.294 0.346 3-Mar Mavs H 0.440 0.296 6-Mar Mavs A 0.440 0.609 8-Mar Warriors A 0.588 0.727 9-Mar Suns A 0.327 0.480 13-Mar Suns H 0.327 0.185 15-Mar Wolves H 0.375 0.250 17-Mar Warriors H 0.588 0.483 20-Mar Jazz H 0.538 0.333 22-Mar Cavs H 0.314 0.250 24-Mar Spurs H 0.769 0.643 27-Mar Pacers H 0.608 0.407 29-Mar Griz A 0.640 0.714 30-Mar Clippers H 0.679 0.571 1-Apr Magic H 0.294 0.240 3-Apr Kings A 0.365 0.538 5-Apr Blazers A 0.490 0.680 6-Apr Nuggets A 0.635 0.880 9-Apr Suns H 0.327 0.185 12-Apr Griz H 0.640 0.545 14-Apr Kings H 0.365 0.192 15-Apr Suns A 0.327 0.480 17-Apr Lakers A 0.462 0.600 Total 0.491 0.490
What is impresive about that chart is that the Rockets have had the most difficult schedule in the West so far this season and are in 8th spot with the youngest team in the league. I think the team is playing it's best ball of the season right now and they are getting better and more confident every game. I think the Rockets lose the game to GS if it were played back in November or December.
Rockets remaining games: Wed, Feb 20 vs Oklahoma City Loss Fri, Feb 22 @ Brooklyn Loss Sat, Feb 23 @ Washington Win Wed, Feb 27 vs Milwaukee Win Fri, Mar 1 @ Orlando Win Sun, Mar 3 vs Dallas Win Wed, Mar 6 @ Dallas Loss Fri, Mar 8 @ Golden State Loss Sat, Mar 9 @ Phoenix Win Wed, Mar 13 vs Phoenix Win Fri, Mar 15 vs Minnesota Win Sun, Mar 17 vs Golden State Win Wed, Mar 20 vs Utah Win Fri, Mar 22 vs Cleveland Win Sun, Mar 24 vs San Antonio Loss Wed, Mar 27 vs Indiana Win Fri, Mar 29 @ Memphis Loss Sat, Mar 30 vs LA Clippers Loss Mon, Apr 1 vs Orlando Win Wed, Apr 3 @ Sacramento Win Fri, Apr 5 @ Portland Loss Sat, Apr 6 @ Denver Loss Tue, Apr 9 vs Phoenix Win Fri, Apr 12 vs Memphis Win Sun, Apr 14 vs Sacramento Win Mon, Apr 15 @ Phoenix Win Wed, Apr 17 @ LA Lakers Loss I have the Rockets going 17-10 in their remaining 27 games barring any injuries or major meltdowns. Finishing the season at 46-36, which i believe would be enough to make the top 8.
A couple of crucial games we have there are two road games against the Suns that also happen to be 2nd games off back to backs. We could go 1-1 on those and end up with a record of 45-37 instead which in my opinion will still be good enough to make the playoffs.
Yeah, at this point the Rockets should make the playoffs short of a meltdown like a 6 game losing streak last year, or the Lakers playing like they're a 60 win team. Portland looks like they're finally slowing down like their talent suggest. Probably just as important is trying to get the 6th seed, since I think we have a slight chance against the Clippers. I see much lesser chance against Spurs or Thunder.
Your original post came just at the right time ... with the all-star game approaching. If we take care of the supposed to win games ... and take a few other games here and there, we should be in. But don't doubt the NBA wanting Lakers in instead of us. Need Harden, Lin, Delfino and perhaps even Douglas to get healthy. Hopefully DM can pull out a good trade for a veteran to help us down the stretch. I'm hoping for a Dalembert trade to help shore up our back-up center spot.
